Two Ellen White equalisers saw England draw 2-2 with Germany in their second match at the SheBelievesCup, meaning victory over the USA on Wednesday will win them the trophy.
Hasret Kayicki was the first to take a shot but it was easy for Siobhan Chamberlain on her 50th cap and Alexandra Popp was presented with a decent chance from a cut-back but failed to connect.
Germany were ahead on 17 minutes after a period of pressure, Lucy Bronze had to clear off the line but the ball eventually went in when Demi Stokes’ attempted clearance was directed over the line by Kayicki.
However, straight down the other end and Fara Williams’ strike from outside the box was deflected in by Ellen White, with goalkeeper Almuth Shult wrong-footed.
Toni Duggan was close to giving England the lead from Kirby’s pass after some initial good work on the flank by Mel Lawley and another delivery from the Manchester City player caused problems for Germany but Stokes half-volleyed it over the top.
Shult just about scooped a Williams free-kick the other side of the post but Germany cleared the corner and it was all square at the interval.
Kirby took too long to pull the trigger after Jill Scott picked her out around the penalty spot but it was the Germans who again began the half the best.
However, the Lionesses contributed plenty to going behind again on 51 minutes, a spell of pinball eventually seeing Chamberlain’s kick going in of Millie Bright.
Nikita Parris came off the bench and soon won a free-kick on the edge of the box but to no effect.
A route one goal saw the Lionesses level on 74 minutes, Stokes picking out White who went one-on-one with the keeper to finish coolly.
Popp failed to keep a far-post header down from Dzsenifer Marozsan’s cross and then Issy Christiansen sent White away but this time the angle was too tight.
Stokes and Parris combined to keep out a threat from Anna Blässe and with the play swinging from end to end, Christiansen set up Rachel Daly but she shot at the keeper.
A deflection and a headed clearance by Bright helped keep Germany from a late winner, as Steffi Jones’ side finished on top.
ENGLAND: Chamberlain, Stokes, Bright, McManus, Bronze, Williams (Walsh, 59), Kirby (Taylor, 90), Scott (Christiansen, 66), Duggan (Parris, 66), Lawley (Daly, 86), White.
GERMANY: Shult, Hendrick, Goessling (Elsig, 86), Marozsan, Popp, Dabritz (Islacker, 72), Dallmann (Magull, 46), Faist, Huth (Schuler, 75), Kemme, Kayicki (Blässe, 46).
The day’s first game had seen France respond to that 4-1 defeat against England to hold the USA to a 1-1 draw.
Mallory Pugh gave the hosts a 35th minute lead but Eugenie le Sommer equalised only 3 minutes later.
